Criminal charges and multi-year suspensions have been levied by city police and Hockey Calgary as a result of separate investigations into an after-game brawl.

Junior B Canucks player Robert Joseph Simard, 21, of Calgary, was charged with assault for the alleged beating of a linesman during a brawl that involved players, parents, fans and officials following an Oct. 22 game against the Bruins, CPS Insp. Blake McWilliam said yesterday.

The official was attacked after he tried to break up an altercation brewing off the ice at Stu Peppard Arena, he said.

"The linesman saw a number of people confronting each other physically, he stepped in to re-store order and it's alleged that, at that point, Mr. Simard became engaged in the fight," said McWilliam.

Witnesses allege the accused, ejected from the game earlier, entered the brawl after the linesman tried to break it up, he said.

The linesman was left unconscious in the melee, said McWilliam.

"We have information that he was kicked in the head and that his head was bounced on the ground," he said.

"We also have information that he was wearing his helmet with a full cage, which probably mitigated his injuries."

McWilliam would not rule out the possibility of further charges being laid against others involved in the melee.

An investigation by Hockey Calgary resulted in the two-year suspension of two players and the one-year ban of a parent from all city arenas where officially sanctioned hockey events are taking place, organization president Ken Moore said.

All suspensions affect the Canucks organization.

"Although this was an isolated incident, it is viewed by Hockey Calgary and the hockey community at large as being extremely serious and completely unacceptable," said Moore.

"The sanctions and suspensions imposed on those individuals responsible are deemed strong."

McWilliam asked anybody who shot photos or videos of the incident to contact police at 266-1234.